simon_doctor | (no subject)

(no subject)

The dividing line between sunlight and shadow is just crossing this particular slice of this particular planet, as it rotates away from its parent star.

Which is to say: it's early evening. Three tiny moons race each other backwards across the sky, away from the last embers of the sunset, growing and phasing towards full, white and pale gold against the deepening blue, pacing their brilliant reflections in the deeper blue water of a glimmering lake.

There are no higher life forms on this planet yet: its indigenous life hasn't advanced much past fairly small insects and lizards, and it'll be some centuries yet before any human colony ships make it this far.

Which may leave the casual observer at a loss to explain the tiny snug house at the edge of the lake, or the carefully tended grove of fruit trees behind it.

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One eye opens.

Just one.

He is therefore eyed.

He looks back at her with Total Innocence.

Total.

Cue instant suspicion.

Amazing, isn't it, how one eye can convey Iiiiii don't know what you're up to but you'd better behave.

"I thought you were sleeping."

"Some of us," says Kaylee, who does august and menacing about as well as a kitten who's just woken up, "can sleep with one eye open."

"I think I had a book like that when I was a kid," says Simon thoughtfully. "About a boy who tried to teach himself to sleep with his eyes open."

His hand's back on her arm, stroking almost absently.

"And now you're seein' the real thing."

Except her eye closed again.

Wait.

"That's ... about how it went in the book, if I remember."

"Yeah? And then what happened?"

"He fell asleep."

His hand's found hers, and closed around it.

"With his eyes closed."

"Well." She's stroking the back of his hand with her thumb. "No danger of that."

He edges over on the bed to sit with his back against the headboard, and puts his arm around her.

"Not sleepy after all?"

"I," says Kaylee with dignity, "am resting my eyes."

...dignity is usually ruined by trying not to laugh, isn't it.

In a low murmur: "Very wise of you."

Kaylee is glad to see that Simon is finally catching on. "Yep. That's me. Wise, and...eye-resting."

She moves a bit closer, turning her head toward his side.

A pause, then, regretfully:

"We really do have to get back to the ship tonight."

"Not for the next half an hour or so." This is muffled slightly.

"True."

He drops a kiss on the top of her head.

Outside there are crickets, and cicadas, but other than that --

Well. The world is quiet here.

"That's just about enough time for a nap."

Kaylee is patently Not Smiling.

"So it is."

He puts a finger under her chin and tips her face upward, just enough to kiss the corner of her mouth.

It's the other eye that opens this time. "That's not so conducive to nap-takin'."

It doesn't sound like she minds, particularly.

He kisses her again.

"No? Sorry."

And now she's laughing. "You are not."

So's he, a little.

"Not really, no."

Kaylee shakes her head sadly. "Don't know what I'm gonna do with you."